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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Send your questions to The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan

751 replies

RachelMumsnet · 20/12/2010 15:53

Great news for all those in The Dog House. We've been given the opportunity to send our canine questions to none other than the Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan. Cesar is over in the UK to promote his forthcoming new series of the UK version of 'The Dog Whisperer' which will be aired in UK on Nat Geo Wild in early February 2011. We'll be filming some members of Mumsnet HQ (plus dogs) putting your questions to Cesar in January and we will be airing the film across the site at the end of January, to coincide with the launch of his new series. To stand a chance of getting your question to Cesar, post them to this thread before end of Tuesday 21st December 2010.

OP posts:
midori1999 · 22/12/2010 23:51

Well, that's OK then, if he does some good things them we can forget about the poor dogs he's strangled, choked, half suffocated, frightened so much they urinated and electrocuted... Hmm Odd how no-one can excuse that sort of behaviour (I mean, it's inexcusable really, isn't it?) but thinks it's OK as he may do some good...

TigerseyeMum · 22/12/2010 23:52

So what if it is true? Confused How does that excuse the poor treatment of dogs in the guise of dog training? Maybe he thinks he really is a good dog trainer. Sadly, there are many voices prepared to shout louder to prove he is not.

His PR machine is a bit deafening but I think the message is getting through, if his tour did not go as well as planned.

DooinMeCleanin · 22/12/2010 23:52

No I am saying that every professional body in the world of canine behaviour and welfare believes he causes more harm than he does good. His marketing team, believe otherwise.

You know when salesmen knock at your door and tell you how amazing their electricity supplier is, so you find yourself switching suppliers and waiting for your free case of wine?

RubyBuckleberry · 22/12/2010 23:53

this is intersting too

MotherJack · 22/12/2010 23:54

Hmmmm.... that's not a percentage game I would like to be playing for fear I would look ignorant and uninformed, Dooin!

TigerseyeMum · 22/12/2010 23:56

Ironically, I suspect CM really does think he is a good trainer, and probably does love dogs. On a good day and if I were feeling generous, I might say his heart was in the right place.

Mind you, I am rarely in a generous mood so I usually say he is a successful con-artist who cares not a jot for the tidal wave of dissent coming his waty. He is either arrogant beyond belief or simply greedy for the money his nonsense makes him. Or maybe he is delusional.

He is certainly narcissistic in personality. Preens like a peacock for the audience. Emporers New Clothes though.

TigerseyeMum · 22/12/2010 23:57

Sorry for crap spelling Blush

RubyBuckleberry · 22/12/2010 23:58

has he been convicted of anything, though, no. wouldn't he have been tried and found guilty of cruelty to animals. or fined or something?

Ponders · 22/12/2010 23:59

"we can forget about the poor dogs he's strangled, choked, half suffocated, frightened so much they urinated and electrocuted"

citations, please

leaving out that one dog - Jake? - who had spent so many months unattended in the garage/basement/whatever; & the GSD whose family had already been using an ecollar; for which dogs can you provide evidence of the allegations of being "strangled, choked, half suffocated, frightened so much they urinated and electrocuted"?

midori1999 · 23/12/2010 00:00

Ruby, read the link Minimu posted a few pages back, now that is interesting my love. Wink

Ponders · 23/12/2010 00:02

the Lab allegedly mishandled at CM's centre, midori? Although it was not done by him?

TigerseyeMum · 23/12/2010 00:04

"Truth is, all these methods can work" states the summary of that article in Slate.

What they failt to mention is that the TV show has a disclaimer to not try them at home. The reason? The techniques are dangerous 'in the wrong hands'. Not only that, they are not recommended by professionals (true professionals) because they can damage a dog. Some dogs may 'adapt' to his aversion techniques being used on them. Others will shut down and crumble, others will bite or bcome neurotic.

Many will look like they have adapted and are 'behaving'. I liken it to using negative punishment on children. Would you not rather foster a positive, rewarding, mutually enjoyable relationship with your kids than a domineering, rule-through-fear relationship?

Shut down a dog so that it is too frightened to communicate to you when it is anxious (such as growling, or moving), and you will end up with a dog pushed beyond its comfort zone that then becomes unpredictable.

Communicate with your dog. Respect that it is a dog, it has needs, it has emotions (different to ours but still there). You will get so much more out of your dog that way, and your relationship will be so much richer for it.

I am wasting my breath.

midori1999 · 23/12/2010 00:04

Ponders, just look back through the thread for video/photographic evidence. If you're too lazy to even click on the links posted so you can make an informed debate, there's not much point in debating it with you.

I am not sure why people think CM is 'excused' from using e-collars or prong collars purely because the dog's owners were already using them. Surely if he disagreed with them (which he doesn't) he would simply say 'actually, I have a better way'? Reagrdless of where these items originated, he is still using them and they are still inhumane. Or do we live in a society where we think electrecuting dogs is humane? (I would assume not seeing as these collars are already illegal in two countries of the UK)

midori1999 · 23/12/2010 00:07

"the Lab allegedly mishandled at CM's centre, midori? Although it was not done by him?"

Allegedly, yes, Obviously he made an out of court settlement out of the goodness of his heart...

Surely if CM is to take credit for all the 'good work' his centres do he must also bear the brunt of the fact they caused an animal harm? If he wasn't deemed responsible, why was he being sued and not the staff member who worked for him?

Ponders · 23/12/2010 00:09

midori, I've looked.
I've clicked.
I still feel informed.
I still feel you are uninformed.
I still disagree with you.

And I still think you all cheerfully continue to bully those who disagree with you.

But who cares, eh? You don't (& I don't care what you think)

TigerseyeMum · 23/12/2010 00:12

I can't see anything bullying about this thread Confused

A tiny minority of people wish to fly in the face of respected professional guidance by claiming adoration for a discredited TV personality. Despite overwhelming evidence. That is all available all over the net (apart from the bits CM got censored).

Animals have no voice, they rely on humans to speak up for them.

With so many other successful methods out there I can't see why on earth we should accept Millan's dodgy practise? Because he is a TV personality?

What do people have to gain in promoting CM so unashamedly? On the payroll???

SeaGreen · 23/12/2010 00:12

this thread has become a witch hunt. people being told that they have been "pulled up". being told to eff off.
can't this be kept civil please?

DooinMeCleanin · 23/12/2010 00:15

Where has anyone been told they have been pulled up or been told to fuck off?

midori1999 · 23/12/2010 00:15

Don't you think it's a bit pathetic to term the majority, who disagree with you 'bullies'? I don't see bullying on this thread, I see people putting forward valid points. Yet because they put forward good points and all everyone else can say is 'I don't believe you' those who disagree are deemed 'bullies'.

Oddly, I don't really care what you think either, I do care if people abuse and harm dogs.

TigerseyeMum · 23/12/2010 00:16

It seems more like people who don't want to see the truth being told in front of them continuing to needle away at people by constantly demanding the same evdence to be shown over and over again and then still in the end saying 'So what? I like him anyway. And I know better.'

The CM disciples can be very vocal in their defence of the man. But those who support animals can be equally as vocal when it comes to animal cruelty :)

midori1999 · 23/12/2010 00:17

Dooin, the one telling people to fuck off was in the 'CM camp'.

VallhalaLalalalalalalalaaaaaa · 23/12/2010 00:18

All I can say is that Hitler had a lot of followers too and was capable of whipping up quite a storm of support.

I didn't think much of his humanitarian standards either.

DooinMeCleanin · 23/12/2010 00:19

Ah right. I missed that. We are currently working our way through the x-mas Magners whilst hoping no-one remembers we told them we had bought a crate of Magners Xmas Grin

SeaGreen · 23/12/2010 00:22

Both sides. I?m not taking a side here.

RubyBuckleberry Wed 22-Dec-10 20:56:41
off you fuck iloveitwhenyoucallmeboo lol

stickersarecurrency Wed 22-Dec-10 21:05:37
Ruby, I've pulled you up before now for promoting Millan's methods on here and it's always been obvious that you've little experience of canine behaviour...

jellybrain · 23/12/2010 00:27

Don't know much about CM, haven't seen him on TV or read any of his books, but I watched that video link with poor old Jake. Made me feel sick and I didn't get to the end.
Can I be number 40 on the list please.